Zendaya has found herself at the center of a growing controversy after stepping out in 3,000-year-old earrings while promoting The Odyssey.
The 29-year-old star, who portrays the goddess Athena in Christopher Nolan’s big-screen adaptation of Homer’s Greek epic, wore the ancient Iranian pieces during a London photo call earlier this month.
According to CNN, the 18-karat yellow gold medallion earrings date to the first millennium B.C. and have been linked to the famed Ziwiyi hoard.
The hoard, a collection of ancient artifacts, was reportedly uncovered in the 1940s after being looted by shepherds.
The fashion choice quickly drew criticism online and among experts, with many questioning whether rare, culturally important relics should be used as red-carpet accessories for a Hollywood movie campaign.
Iranian art historian Sussan Babaie, a professor at the Courtauld Institute, told The Guardian that using the earrings as part of Zendaya’s promotional look was “shocking” and “not a good idea.”
“There is not enough cultural knowledge and cultural sensibility among those who dress [celebrities], those who accessorise them, those who put them up as the symbols of beauty and power and an expression of the movie’s high-mindedness,” she said.
Babaie argued that such items were “not meant to be displayed as accessories,” stressing that they represent “human heritage” and “world heritage.” She also said the decision risked “hijacking, flattening and transforming [ancient Iran’s] cultural contributions to humanity.”
Zendaya, 29, has sparked backlash for wearing 3,000-year-old earrings during her latest press tour for The Odyssey (seen above)
The ‘ancient gold discs are held within a simple, noninvasive claw setting that does not alter or damage the original objects in any way,’ Barron London told CNN
The pieces worn by Zendaya are attributed to the Ziwiye hoard and were discovered nearly 100 years earlier in the 1940s
Social media users were also quick to offer their thoughts on the earrings.
One X account said: ‘Exhausted with the continuous “disrespect” to other Countries.’
Another wrote, ‘As an archaeology student. I HATE THIS. They should be in a museum.’
‘While I’m glad they’re preserved, Shouldn’t ancient artefacts be in a museum? I think these should be in a museum, but that’s my opinion,’ a fan typed.
On Reddit, one shared, ‘I love Zendaya, but I don’t think 3,000-year-old jewellery should be lent out to anyone. Like, that’s actually crazy lol.’
Another said, ‘Cool but something feels off about wearing an artefact like that. Unless those were commonly found.’
In the comment section of an Instagram post shared by user @northwitch69, one said, ‘I love her, but the designer should’ve been more responsible and not used such as a valuable historical piece as an earring for a movie premiere.
‘We should take care of history, even when the historical remains aren’t in their original places.’
But another typed, ‘Well to be fair, there’s only really going to be one team that will have respect for them and that’s Zendaya and Law.’
The actress, whose stylist is Law Roach, donned the jewelry during a photo call in London earlier this month
‘As an Iranian, I find this whole situation deeply upsetting. This piece is a part of Iran’s history and cultural heritage, and it should not be in the hands of anyone other than Iran and its people,’ a fan wrote.
‘It was taken from Iran and transformed into an earring, while if it had stayed in its homeland, it would have been protected and preserved in a museum.’
Another added, ‘Love Zendaya but wearing artefacts that were likely looted is not a good look.’
The pieces worn by Zendaya are attributed to the Ziwiye hoard and were looted by shepherds in the 1940s.
London-based jeweller Glenn Spiro designed the earrings, which are bordered by diamonds and were later acquired by Barron London.
The ‘ancient gold discs are held within a simple, noninvasive claw setting that does not alter or damage the original objects in any way,’ Barron London told CNN.
‘Cultural heritage rightly inspires important conversations, and we welcome informed dialogue about provenance, preservation and the appreciation of exceptional craftsmanship.’
The jeweller also stated, ‘At a time when Iran is frequently viewed through the lens of contemporary events, we hope these earrings can serve as a reminder of the country’s enduring artistic, cultural and historical legacy.’
Zendaya, whose stylist is Law Roach, had paired the earrings with a white Jacquemus dress featuring draped fabric that fell down her back, pictures show.
